Instant Impacts – University of Maryland Athletics

The entire freshman class may be a secret weapon for Locksley’s 2025 rendition of Maryland football. Seven new faces hail from ESPN’s 2025 ESPN300, a ranking of the top recruits from each class.

Defensive lineman Zahir Mathis (No. 60 on the list), tackle Jaylen Gilchrist (121), quarterback Malik Washington (134), defensive tackle Bryce Jenkins (157), wide receiver Zymear Smith (214), safety Messiah Delhomme (231) and running back Iverson Howard (274) join Stewart in guys competing to make immediate differences in 2025. 

“Gilchrist, man, he’s a tough player,” senior offensive lineman Alan Herron said. “You don’t see many freshmen come in and play the way that he’s playing right now. I feel like he’ll be a great addition to the offensive line this year.”

Gilchrist and the new faces bring an interestingly dynamic combination of moldability and freshness to camp every time they hit the grass.

“I feel the creativity,” Stewart said. “I feel that because we’re younger, we’re not stuck in our ways. We kind of play with this freshness. It’s just refreshing because we do something new every day that you might not expect from us.”

They’re not only going through drills, they’re competing for starting spots, something Stewart said drives him and his love for his new program.

“It excites me because it shows the trust my coaches have in me,” Stewart said. “I really appreciate that, especially as a younger guy. Certain programs, they don’t run it the same way. Regardless of how you perform, while you’re younger, they still might not play you, so I appreciate the level of trust.”